reath. Was it possible he was
to have an opportunity to pitch in that game? Eagerly he started, but
Rackliff's stained fingers gripped his coatsleeve.

"Are you going to be an easy mark?" asked Herbert scornfully. "Are you
going to let them run you in after a game is lost by another pitcher?
Have you forgotten the sort of rotten, shabby treatment you've had to
stand by this very bunch that wants to put you up for sacrifice now?"

Roy hesitated.

"Look here, you pale-faced, sneaky, cigarette-suckin' pup," rasped Bunk
furiously, "you take your claws off his arm and let him alone, or I'll
grasp the occasion to hand you the dose of medicine I come so nigh
givin' ye at the game last Satterday. Mebbe he can save this game, and
it's up to him to try, anyhow. I s'pose you've bet some more money
ag'inst your own school team, and want to see it beat. Somebody's
goin' to give you all that's coming some day pretty soon. Come on
quick, Hook."

Roy did not permit Herbert to detain him longer, but he heard and
understood some words which were hastily whispered into his ear by the
fellow as he was starting away.

Meanwhile Grant had pulled himself together at last, despite the
howling of the Clearport crowd, and, with the bases full and the enemy
only one tally behind, he struck out two men, bringing the rally to an
end.

Rod's face wore an unusually serious expression as he walked to the
bench, at one end of which Eliot stood unbuckling the body-protector.

"That sure was a right rotten exhibition of pitching," said the Texan
humbly. "Why didn't you yank me out, captain?"

"Because," answered Roger, "there was no one else to put in."

"Why, Phil----"

"Has disappeared; can't find hide nor hair of him. I sent for Roy
Hooker as a last resort and--here he is!"

Roy came up, his face flushed. Eliot spoke to him quietly in a low
tone:

"Springer has deserted us," he said. "If I'd had you on the bench and
ready, I'd surely sent you onto the firing line to relieve Grant. Get
somebody to catch you and limber your arm up. I may let you finish the
game."

So Hooker peeled off and went at it warming up while Oakdale made a
desperate but futile effort to gather some more tallies. While his
players were striving to solve Oakes' delivery Captain Eliot had a
brief talk with Grant.

"You were not wholly to blame for that streak, Rod," said Roger.
"Those two bad errors helped things along; they sort of got your goat.